The Congressional Award is the United States Congress' award for young Americans, established in 1979. Young people register from age 13 and a half and earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificates and Medals by setting and meeting goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition or exploration, finishing by their 24th birthday.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Tallyhurst is an independent coaching service and can serve as your teenager's Advisor.
What the award is
The Congressional Award is non-competitive, non-partisan and voluntary. There is no application to be accepted and no limit on how many young people earn it: every participant who meets the requirements receives the award. It honors goals set and met after registering, not past achievements, so nothing done before registration counts. Awards can be listed on college, scholarship and job applications, and Gold Medalists are honored in Washington, DC.
Who can take part
Young people may register at 13 and a half, submit completed record books from age 14, and must complete all activities by their 24th birthday. Participants register with a physical address in the United States or its territories. Registration carries a one-time fee, which may be waived for students who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch. Current fees are listed on the official site. Tallyhurst coaches students from age 13, so a student can begin planning with us before registering at 13 and a half.
The six levels
Each level requires goals in all four program areas. There are no partial awards. Hours carry over from one level to the next, so a student working toward the Gold Medal earns each award along the way.
| Level | Voluntary public service | Personal development | Physical fitness | Expedition or exploration | Minimum time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Certificate | 30 hours | 15 hours | 15 hours | 1 day | no minimum |
| Silver Certificate | 60 hours | 30 hours | 30 hours | 2 days | no minimum |
| Gold Certificate | 90 hours | 45 hours | 45 hours | 3 days | 6 months in each area |
| Bronze Medal | 100 hours | 50 hours | 50 hours | 2 days, 1 night | 7 months in each area |
| Silver Medal | 200 hours | 100 hours | 100 hours | 3 days, 2 nights | 12 months in each area |
| Gold Medal | 400 hours | 200 hours | 200 hours | 5 days, 4 nights | 24 months in each area |
Medal-level expeditions must be consecutive overnight trips. Source: The Congressional Award Program Book.
The rules that catch families out
Register first. Hours only count from the date of registration, and goals must be approved by the Advisor.
Spread the months. The month minimums exist to build a habit, so hours crammed into a few weeks will not meet them.
No more than eight hours a day count toward any program area.
Most service must be direct. Planning, meetings, training, research and fundraising together may make up no more than a quarter of voluntary public service hours.
No pay, no class credit. Service that is paid or earns class credit does not count.
One activity, one area. An activity counts toward only one program area, and expedition activity counts only toward the expedition.
The student plans and leads the expedition. A trip designed and run by someone else will not qualify, although adults can provide safety and logistics.
Advisors and Validators
Every participant needs an Advisor: an adult who helps set goals, monitors progress and signs off the record book before it is submitted. The Advisor cannot be a parent, relative or peer. Each goal also needs a Validator, an adult who knows the activity, such as a coach or volunteer coordinator, and who is not a family member. The program does not assign Advisors, and finding one is where many families stall. Tallyhurst can serve as your teenager's Advisor, and we help identify the right Validator for each goal.
Starting early
The earlier a student begins, the more the award gives back. We start working with students at 13, often in 8th grade, before they are old enough to register. That first stretch builds the foundations: choosing activities, writing goals with the Advisor, and the habit of logging every week. Many begin the Youth STEMM Award in the same period. At 13 and a half the student registers, and from that day every hour counts. The Gold Medal requires at least 24 months, so a student who registers in 8th grade can reach it by the middle of high school, leaving the final years free for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award at Gold, which opens at 16. Students who start later still have a clear path: the Certificates have shorter minimums, and every level earned along the way is a finished award.
How we coach The Congressional Award
We help your teenager choose the right starting level, write goals the Advisor can approve, and open one activity log that the record book is later written from. Regular online sessions, with a parent or guardian present, keep the plan moving. The eight-day rule means a quiet log is noticed within days, not months. We coach the expedition planning so it meets the requirement, help secure Validators, and check every page of the record book before it is submitted. Parents receive a written progress report every month.
Questions about The Congressional Award
What is The Congressional Award?
It is the United States Congress' award for young Americans, established in 1979. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificates and Medals by setting and meeting goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition or exploration.
How old do you have to be?
Young people may register at 13 and a half, submit record books from age 14, and must complete all activities by their 24th birthday.
When should my teenager start?
As early as the rules allow. We begin working with students at 13, often in 8th grade, and they register for The Congressional Award at 13 and a half. Starting then makes the Gold Medal's 24-month minimum achievable by the middle of high school.
How many hours does the Gold Medal require?
400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 of personal development and 200 of physical fitness, each over at least 24 months, plus an expedition of 5 days and 4 nights.
Do hours carry over between levels?
Yes. Hours earned toward one level count toward the next, so a student working toward the Gold Medal earns each award along the way.
Can activities completed before registering count?
No. Only activities completed after registration count, once the Advisor has approved the goals.
Can a parent be the Advisor?
No. The Advisor cannot be a parent, relative or peer. Tallyhurst can serve as your teenager's Advisor.
Can one activity count toward two program areas?
No. Each activity counts toward one program area only, and expedition activity counts only toward the expedition.
Is The Congressional Award competitive?
No. Every participant who meets the requirements earns the award, and there is no limit on the number awarded.
Does Tallyhurst run the expedition?
No. The program requires the participant to plan and lead the expedition. We coach the planning so it meets the requirement, and where adult support is needed for safety, it follows our safeguarding standard.
Is Tallyhurst part of The Congressional Award?
No. Tallyhurst is an independent coaching service, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Congressional Award Foundation. Your teenager registers directly with the program.